A group of prominent Northern Kentucky business and civic leaders have created a new community-wide foundation that will focus on funding key community needs and programs in Northern Kentucky. The Horizon Community Funds of Northern Kentucky aims to increase philanthropic giving by Northern Kentucky individuals, corporations and organizations for Northern Kentucky purposes, foster this giving community, and build a qualified public charity resource base to better service social needs and projects benefitting the public good.

The Horizon Community Funds is fueled and governed by a group of Northern Kentucky philanthropic business and civic leaders whose talents and expertise have benefited companies and organizations of all kinds. Each member of the Horizon Funds of Northern Kentucky Council of Trustees was selected for their success, experience, reputations for fiscal responsibility, and dedication to philanthropic initiatives.

“I am privileged to chair this astute Council to create a long overdue public charity vehicle designed to bring everyone into shared action for lasting service and support for Northern Kentucky. By our collective giving, bigger impacts and outcomes are possible,” said Bill Butler, Chairman of Corporex Companies, LLC.

The Council of Trustees is building, but initially includes these founding members:

The Horizon Community Funds will focus on helping break the cycle of poverty, supporting the arts, sparking development and innovation, enriching education, and improving the health and wellness of Northern Kentucky. The organization will have options for the full spectrum of donors, from those who want to give to a general community fund to those who want to choose what charities benefit from their gifts. The primary service area will be Boone, Campbell and Kenton Counties of Northern Kentucky.

"This fund will provide our community with a philanthropic partner which can convene, consolidate and encourage charitable giving in a tax advantaged manner. By bringing together those with a philanthropic interest we can better influence and support our growing Northern Kentucky region," shared Bob Zapp, retired Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Kentucky.

The Council of Trustees selected Nancy Grayson as President of the Horizon Community Funds to lead the organization and to develop funding programs and community engagement. Grayson previously served as the Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Northern Kentucky Education Council, where she guided strategies related to established regional education goals. She also has served on numerous boards of organizations, and currently serves on the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence Board of Governors, Kentucky Historical Society Governing Board, Metropolitan Club Board of Governors and United Way Northern Kentucky Action Council.

“I am deeply honored to have been selected as President of the Horizon Community Funds of Northern Kentucky,” stated Nancy Grayson. “Northern Kentucky has a history of working together to achieve our common goals. We now have the opportunity to join together again to not only create additional resources for our community, but to establish a legacy foundation for future generations.”

The Horizon Community Funds of Northern Kentucky was established in 2017 as a community foundation.